The Department of Justice is cracking down on naturalized citizens, aiming to strip citizenship from those who commit heinous crimes like terrorism or human rights abuses, as Axios reports. This bold move, part of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement surge, has progressives clutching their pearls over “due process.” It’s a policy that says: if you betray America, don’t expect to keep its privileges.
A DOJ memo, penned by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, prioritizes denaturalization for naturalized citizens involved in war crimes, extrajudicial killings, or terrorism. The policy also targets those who illegally obtained citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation. In one sentence: the DOJ is intensifying efforts to revoke citizenship from naturalized Americans who commit serious crimes or lie to get their papers, sparking a firestorm over constitutional rights.
Naturalization, per the Immigration and Nationality Act, grants citizenship to lawful permanent residents after meeting strict requirements like five years of residency. Applicants must also prove they can read, write, and speak English while passing a U.S. history test. It’s a rigorous process -- yet some still game the system, and now the DOJ’s saying, “Not on our watch.”
From 1990 to 2017, the DOJ filed about 11 denaturalization cases annually, totaling 305. During Trump’s first term, that number spiked, with at least 30 cases filed in 2017 alone—double the previous year’s count. The left cries foul, but cleaning up fraud in the system isn’t exactly a scandal.
By August 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services flagged 2,500 cases for potential denaturalization, referring 110 to the DOJ. One recent case saw a collector of child sexual abuse material lose his citizenship post-conviction. If you’re committing atrocities, maybe don’t expect a free pass to stay American.
The DOJ’s memo lists denaturalization among its top five enforcement priorities, right up there with “ending antisemitism.” Shumate’s directive is clear: “maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings” when evidence supports it. Sounds like a plan to keep America’s citizenship rolls honest.
The Trump administration’s focus on antisemitism includes cases like Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and green card holder, detained for months. Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued Khalil’s presence undermines efforts to protect Jewish students from harassment. Critics call it overreach; supporters see it as standing firm against hate.
Rubio’s memo claimed that allowing Khalil to stay would weaken U.S. policies combating antisemitism globally. “Undermine U.S. policy to combat anti-Semitism,” Rubio said, tying Khalil’s case to broader national security goals. The woke crowd might scream “Islamophobia,” but prioritizing Jewish safety isn’t exactly a conspiracy.
Denaturalization isn’t just about crime -- it’s also about fraud. The DOJ targets those who “illegally procured” citizenship or hid material facts during naturalization. Lying your way into America’s good graces? That’s a one-way ticket to the exit.
In 2022, 46.2 million immigrants lived in the U.S., with 24.5 million -- or 53% -- being naturalized citizens. Over the past decade, 7.9 million people became citizens, with a median of 7.5 years as permanent residents before naturalizing. These numbers show a system that’s generous but now demands accountability.
Eligibility for naturalization isn’t a cakewalk: five years as a permanent resident, plus exceptions for military members or spouses of citizens. Applicants must also demonstrate civic knowledge and language skills. It’s a high bar, so why should cheaters get to keep the prize?
Assistant Attorney General Shumate’s memo doesn’t mince words: “The Civil Division shall prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization.” Progressives wail about “cruelty,” but enforcing the law isn’t a feelings contest -- it’s about justice.
Law professor Cassandra Burke Robertson once claimed, “Denaturalization is no longer so rare.” She argues civil denaturalization violates due process and the 14th Amendment’s protections. Nice try, but protecting America from terrorists and fraudsters isn’t exactly trampling the Constitution.
“Stripping Americans of citizenship… infringes on the rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment,” Robertson told NPR. Her ivory-tower take ignores the reality: citizenship isn’t a get-out-of-jail-free card for war criminals. The DOJ’s focus is precision, not persecution.
The Trump administration’s policy is clear: if you commit egregious crimes or scam your way to citizenship, expect consequences. Critics may howl about “xenophobia,” but this is about upholding the integrity of American citizenship. In a world of rising threats, that’s a stance worth defending.
